KSEB to Set up Electric Car Charging Stations in Capital

Thiruvananthapuram: In a first, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will set up charging stations for electric cars in Thiruvananthapuram soon. It will come up at the Board’s headquarters here. The Board will also establish charging booths in Kochi and Kozhikode districts near the KSEB substations.

Later the project will be implemented across the State. The decision comes in view of the Central Government’s decision to encourage the use of electric vehicles in the country.

Minister M.M. Mani had instructed the KSEB to find new sources to generate income other than traditional income sources. The Board has the intention to utilize the abundant solar power it gets during the day. Around 50 to 100 cars can be charged at a time in their charging stations. Currently, in Maharashtra and New Delhi, there are charging booths for electric vehicles.

In the US, the average cost of electricity is 12 cents per kWh. Therefore, the average person driving the average EV 15,000 miles per year pays about $540.00 per year to charge it.

Electric cars can plug in to your domestic 13amp power supply at home, the same as your vacuum cleaner or TV. In fact, trials have shown that’s what most EV users do – 85% plug in and charge overnight at home or work rather than using public on-street charging points.